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John Ray Jaggers, age 68 was born April 15, 1943 in Pine Bluff, AR to the late Joseph William Jaggars and Mamie Ione Fore Jaggars. He departed this life Thursday, July 21, 2011, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock, AR. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, John Wright Jaggars and Thomas Eugene 'Buddy' Jaggars.
He was a retired location manager for Helena Chemical Company, a U.S. Army Veteran serving in Korea during the Vietnam War and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Portland where he taught the TEL Sunday School class and sang bass in the church choir. Mr. Jaggers graduated from Rison High School on May 8, 1961, and attended Henderson State University where he graduated in 1965. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September of 1968, where he obtained the rank of Captain.
He taught school in the Pine Bluff school district before enrolling at UCA to complete his pre-medical degree. He obtained a master's degree from UCA in 1971. For the next five years, he was a teacher/coach at Hamburg High School.
In 1975, Mr. Jaggers relocated to Portland to run the Gus Pugh & Sons fertilizer plant. After 7 years with GP&S, he went to work for Helena Chemical, where he retired in 2006 with 24 years of service. He also served one five-year term on the Hamburg School Board and nine years as the mayor of Portland. Mr. Jaggers was an avid hunter and fisherman with a great love for the outdoors.
Survivors include his wife, Gay Batson Jaggers of Portland; his son, James 'Jim' Batson Jaggers and wife, Kami of Monticello; his daughter, Amy Gay Jaggers Stuart and husband, Jeremy of Bastrop, LA; one brother, Billy Joe Jaggars of Magnolia; four sisters, Mamie Jo Coats of Little Rock, Mattie Lou Hall of Hot Springs, Betty Jean Hamilton of Conway and Anna Sue Post of Kingsland; and two grandchildren, Bliss Caitlin Jaggers and Rhett Cameron Jaggers.
He was a retired location manager for Helena Chemical Company, a U.S. Army Veteran serving in Korea during the Vietnam War and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Portland where he taught the TEL Sunday School class and sang bass in the church choir. Mr. Jaggers graduated from Rison High School on May 8, 1961, and attended Henderson State University where he graduated in 1965. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September of 1968, where he obtained the rank of Captain.
He taught school in the Pine Bluff school district before enrolling at UCA to complete his pre-medical degree. He obtained a master's degree from UCA in 1971. For the next five years, he was a teacher/coach at Hamburg High School.
In 1975, Mr. Jaggers relocated to Portland to run the Gus Pugh & Sons fertilizer plant. After 7 years with GP&S, he went to work for Helena Chemical, where he retired in 2006 with 24 years of service. He also served one five-year term on the Hamburg School Board and nine years as the mayor of Portland. Mr. Jaggers was an avid hunter and fisherman with a great love for the outdoors.
Survivors include his wife, Gay Batson Jaggers of Portland; his son, James 'Jim' Batson Jaggers and wife, Kami of Monticello; his daughter, Amy Gay Jaggers Stuart and husband, Jeremy of Bastrop, LA; one brother, Billy Joe Jaggars of Magnolia; four sisters, Mamie Jo Coats of Little Rock, Mattie Lou Hall of Hot Springs, Betty Jean Hamilton of Conway and Anna Sue Post of Kingsland; and two grandchildren, Bliss Caitlin Jaggers and Rhett Cameron Jaggers.